BERLIN - Bombardier Transportation is joining forces with a Chinese partner to establish a company that will do maintenance and repair work on subway cars in that country’s key railway market.

Shentong Bombardier (Shanghai) Rail Transit Vehicle Maintenance Company Ltd. is a joint venture between two companies with a long-standing history of co-operation, Bombardier said in a news release Friday.

No financial details of the partnership with Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. Ltd. were provided.

Bombardier said the new company leverages the strengths of each partner to reduce downtimes and extend the life of subway fleets in China and reduce operating costs.

Jianwei Zhang, president of Bombardier China, said the joint venture marks a new milestone for the company’s business in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

“Through its participation in a number of railway projects in China, by successfully providing rail vehicles, signalling, propulsion, locomotives, light rail transit and automated people movers, Bombardier has earned an excellent reputation and has gained a great understanding of the specific needs of the Chinese rail market,” he stated.

Berlin-based Bombardier is the world’s largest rail equipment manufacturer which has been actively involved in developing China’s urban mass transit and railway networks.

Its three joint ventures and seven foreign-owned businesses employs more than 4,000 people at offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of planes and trains, with US$18.3 billion of revenues last year.

On the Toronto Stock Exchange, its shares gained three cents at $3.36 in midday trading.